Rigid tubular syringe package



Sept. 19, 1967 F. c. FAULSEIT RIGID TUBULAR SYRINGE PACKAGE Filed June 21, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 a r .m z 2 7 6 a j J. h z y m 0 L G T E H U 3 W a 1C.

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INVENTOR. F9fi/YC75 C. FAVZSE/T m, M, ymp Ma Sept. 19, 1967 F. c. FAULSEIT RIGID TUBULAR SYRINGE PACKAGE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 21, 1966 7 I. R 6 n m a a 3 N Z Z A W W 6 w 5 V W F v w/l I M m y 5 4 2 m 2 /4.\ \IM 4 a r 2 M 6 m 0 Z w A u 2 b .fl o b m z I A 4 m a y a w v I III I! Sept. 19, 1967 F; c. FAULSEIT 3,

RIGID TUBULAR SYRINGE PACKAGE Filed June 21, 1956 FIG. 25 FIG. 26 /ac/ H25 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 23a H7 H6127 INVENTOR. 1 24/7675 6: F/VUASJE/f Mg A M M United States Patent 3,342,319 RIGID TUBULAR YRINGE PACKAGE Francis C. Faulseit, Clifton, N.J., assignor to Becton,

Dickinson and Company, Rutherford, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 559,211 8 Claims. (Cl. 20643) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An economically produced rigid tubular syringe package which will protect an enclosed sterilized springe for an extended period of time and which has a bellows portion so that when the lid of the package is removed, the package may be collapsed to project a portion of the enclosed syringe which may be easily grasped and the syringe removed without endangering the desired sterilization of parts thereof. A significant savings in storage space, cost, protection of an enclosed syringe and ease of aseptic removal are ultimate advantages of the package.

This invention relates to a rigid tubular syringe package which will house and protect a sterile syringe for an extensive period of time while occupying a small amount of storage space and will permit the syringe to be removed quickly and efficiently without contaminating the syringe and rendering it unusable.

In accordance with usual practice, syringes which have been placed in a non-rigid package and sterilized prior to use are generally stored in a large container or bin. They are placed in this bin and removed at random and in the process occasionally being treated in a casual and rough manner. Under such circumstances, a non-rigid package has been known to fail or break with resulting contamination of the syringe. In addition, non-rigid packages of this type have difficulty in holding an enclosed syringe in a relatively fixed position therein, thereby permitting the syringe to move, and with frequent handling or movement of the package a point of weakness could be found or developed by the syringe to cause a rupture in the package which again would expose the syringe to contamination. The inability to insure against deliberate breaking or rupturing of any location of the package to gain access to the syringe, rendered sensitive parts of the syringe susceptible to contamination in the absence of the exercise of extreme care on the part of the user. Also, non-rigid packages occupy an excessive amount of cubage when transported and stored in a doctors ofiice, a hospital, or a warehouse thereby requiring space which could be used for other useful purposes. In addition, when a non-rigid package is opened, it is often possible for contaminated outer edges of the package to come in contact with the sterile syringe while it being removed.

Accordingly, it has been found desirable to store and ship a sterile syringe in a rigid package. However, a number of problems exist in employing rigid syringe packages. Of prime importance is the difficulty in gaining access into the container to readily grasp the syringe for removal. Increased dimensioning of the package which is intended to be a disposable item would not be practical because of the requirements for use of more resin, and the increase in space requirements and handling costs. Also, a package must be provided whereby the seal may be broken for removal of the syringe without endangering the sterility of the syringe by the proximity of contaminated edges of the package. The package must be constructed of a material which will protect the sterility of the syringe fgr an extended period of time. Naturally, it must also be kept in mind that the process for opening the package and removing the enclosed syringe must be simple and capable of being executed quickly and efficiently by even the non-technically oriented individuals.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide for a disposable rigid package for a sterilized syringe capable of providing optimum protection and relative ease in opening and gaining access to the contained syringe without danger of contamination.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rigid package which is durable enough to maintain the sterility of an enclosed syringe for a prolonged period of time and one that while still sealed may be resterilized externally and internally for use in operating rooms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rigid package which will maintain an enclosed syringe in a fixed position and thereby lessen the danger of movement of the syringe within the package which could otherwise cause breakage of the package and resulting contamination of the syringe or breaking of delicate parts thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rigid container for a syringe which is compact and therefore will occupy a reduced amount of storage space to the extent that approximately 581 syringes per cubic foot can be stored instead of only 327 syringes per cubic foot for a typical non-rigid package.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rigid sterile package of the above type which can be sealed simply by an easily removable lid.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a rigid tube syringe package of this type with a bellows means positioned to that when the lid is removed, thepackage may be collapsed longitudinally exposing the rear end of the enclosed syringe which may be easily grasped and the syringe removed without danger of contamination.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached drawings of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a rigid tube syringe package of the invention with a removable lid sealed on the top thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4- is an end elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 55 of FIGURE 4, showing the contained syringe with the lid in the process of being removed from the top by hand;

FIGURE 6 is a similar sectional view now showing the package being longitudinally collapsed by hand to expose the rear end of the syringe for manual grasping and removal;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention with a removable sealing lid on the top;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 9-9 of FIGURE 8 and showing the package being longitudinally collapsed after removal of the lid in order to expose the rear end of the enclosed syringe for grasping and removing;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line Iii-d0 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of the invention with a removable lid on the t FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 12-12 of FIGURE 11 and showing an enclosed syringe;

FIGURE 13 is a sectional side view thereof taken along the plane of line 13-13 of FIGURE 12 and showing the package being collapsed longitudinally after removal of the lid, thereby exposing the rear end of the enclosed syringe for grasping and removal;

FIGURE 14 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along the plane of line 14-14 of FIGURE 11;

FIIGURE 15 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention containing a removable lid;

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view thereof taken along the plane of line 16-16 of FIGURE 15 and showing an enclosed syringe;

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view thereof taken along the plane of line 17-17 of FIGURE 16 and showing the package being collapsed longitudinally by hand after removal of the lid in order to expose the rear end of the enclosed syringe for grasping and removal;

FIGURE 18 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along the plane of line 18-18 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 19 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment of the invention containing a removable lid and in which a needle shield protects the needle;

FIGURE 20 is a sectional view thereof taken along the plane of line 2020 of FIGURE 19 and showing a contained syringe and removable lid;

FIGURE 21 is a sectional view thereof with part of the body portion broken away and showing the package being collapsed longitudinally after removal of the lid in order to expose the rear end of the syringe for grasping and removal;

FIGURE 22 is a top plane view thereof;

FIGURE 23 is a bottom plane view thereof;

FIGURE 24 is a sectional view of a modification of the embodiment of the FIGURES 20-23 with the lower portion of the body broken oil? and showing the package being longitudinally collapsed by hand for the removal of the syringe;

FIGURE 25 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the invention containing a removable lid and in which a needle shield protects the needle;

FIGURE 26 is a sectional view thereof taken along the line 26-26 of FIGURE 25 and showing a syringe contained therein;

FIGURE 27 is a sectional view thereof taken along the plane of line 27--27 of FIGURE 26 and showing the package in longitudinally collapsed position after the lid has been removed thereby exposing the rear end of the syringe for grasping and removal;

FIGURE 28 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 29 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

FIGURE 30 is a sectional view of the bottom end of the body portion of a package of the invention showing a modification of the embodiment of FIGURES 25-29 with a syringe contained within.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1-6, a rigid tube package 18 includes a container 19 divided basically into two sections, and shorter approximately rectangular shaped head portion 20 and a narrow long tapered body portion 21. The container 19 may be constructed of any one of a number of rigid synthetic materials such as polypropylene, high impact styrene, or the like, and is economical to produce so that the package may be disposed of after single use. The material must maintain the sterility of a syringe contained within it for a considerable length of time. A bellows portion 22 is located intermediate the ends of the tapered body portion 21. This bellows portion 22 is tubular in shape and is tapered from top to bottom so as to conform in configuration with and continue the lines of the body portion 21. A pliable removable lid 23 is adapted to be sealed to the upper face of laterally extending flange 24 of the head portion 20. This lid 23 can be constructed of a plastic material or a paper, or a foil or a combination of materials such as a laminate. The material must be flexible, must be able to be sealed to the package by heat, pressure or similar means, and must be able to maintain the sterile condition of an enclosed syringe for an extensive length of time. The type of lid used will often depend upon the method of sterilization. The packages are usually sterilized after the syringe has been placed within and the lid has been sealed. If a radiation sterilization method is used, the lid can be of any non-permeable material such as plastic, a foil, or cellophane. However, if a gas is used to sterilize the package, the lid must be of a gas permeable material which will allow the gas to pass into the package. A paper having a density of between to 300 seconds has proven satisfactory. The head portion 20 is wider than the upper end of the body portion 21, thereby forming a shoulder 25 on the inside of the container. The interior of the body portion 21 is also provided with a shoulder 26. These shoulders cooperate with lid 23 in substantially immovably mounting the syringe 27 within the package. In this connection the flange 28 of the syringe barrel rests on the shoulder 25 at the flange 29. The needle hub sits on the shoulder 26. Thus, in this embodiment a needle shield is not required inasmuch as the lower end of the body portion 21 serves this purpose. For this reason, the exterior of the lower end of the body portion is provided with a number of longitudinally rigidifying ribs 30 to insure against penetration of the package walls by the needle 31. The package also conforms to the shape of the enclosed syringe in order that a minimum amount of material need be used for the package and also a minimum amount of space is needed to store each individual package. In fact, approximately 5 81 of this type of syringe package may be stored in a cubic foot of space whereas with a common type of non-rigid package only approximately 327 syringe packages can be stored in a cubic foot.

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict the method for opening this rigid package 18 and removing the syringe 27. With reference to FIG. 5, the package is opened by initially grasping the pliable lid 23 sealed on the top flange 24. The lid 23 is then manually pulled to remove it completely from the head portion 20. After the lid has been removed, there are no contaminated edges adjacent to the enclosed syringe which might contaminate the syringe as it is being removed. After the lid is completely removed, the next step is to shift the head portion 20 longitudinally as seen in FIG. 6 so that the bellows 22 collapses. Since flange 29 is in engagement with the shoulder 26, the syringe 27 remains in a fixed position when the package collapses. Therefore, the rear end of the syringe plunger 32 will become exposed. The user may then merely grasp the plunger 32 of the syringe 27 and remove it quickly and easily from the package without danger of contamination.

In FIGS. 7-10, the illustrated embodiment is essentially the same as that previously described both functionally and structurally. With this in mind, like parts will bear similar numbers but with accompanying primes. The bellows 22' is now positioned at the upper end of the body 21', its top edge being immediately below the head 20'. It is also oval rather than substantially circular in section. The syringe 27 rests on the two shoulders 25 and 26' as in the previous embodiment. Once again, no shield is required for the needle 31 of the enclosed syringe 37' other than the ribbed lower part of the body portion 21'. AS in the previous embodiment, the syringe 27' is removed by peeling 01f lid 23 and then compressing the bellows 22. As shown in FIG. 9, the rear end of plunger 32 is now exposed so that it can be easily grasped and the syringe 27' can be readily removed.

In FIGS. 11-14, a third somewhat similar embodiment is illustrated and like parts will be similarly numbered with accompanying double primes. The bellows 22" is once again positioned immediately below the head portion 20 of the container 19". The bellows 22 itself is tubular with a high degree of taper so as to be conical in configuration. The syringe 27 is removed from the pack age in essentially the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10.

FIGS. 15-18 show another embodiment of this invention and like parts will be similarly numbered with accompanying subscript a. The syringe 27a fits into the con tainer 19a and rests on the flange 25a and 26:: as in the previous embodiments. The bellows 22a forms part of the head portion 20a of the container 19a, and is tubular in shape and assumes the cross section shown in FIG. 18. The package is opened in the same manner by removal of the lid 23a and collapsing the bellows 22a longitudinally to expose the rear portion of the plunger 32a. The enclosed syringe 27a may then be easily removed.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of FIGS. 19-24 wherein like parts will also be similarly numbered but with an accompanying subscript b. The bellows 22b in this embodiment is on the undersurface of the head portion 20b, and defines the shoulder 251; on which the flange 28b of the enclosed syringe 27b rests. In this embodiment the body portion 21b is continuous throughout its length both exteriorly and interiorly. Under these circumstances, a shield 34 is employed to protect needle 31b from possible damage and to hold the syringe 27b in a fixed position within the container 19b. The syringe package 18b is opened by initially removing the lid 23b and then the bellows 22b is extended as shown in FIG. 21 to expose the rear end of plunger 32b of the syringe 2711, which can then be grasped and easily removed.

FIG. 24 illustrates another embodiment similar to that of FIGS. 19-23. The bellows portion 22b on the underside of the head 20b is at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the package. Removal of the syringe 27b is accomplished in a manner suggested for the companion embodiment.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 25-30 wherein like numbers with subscript 0 will be employed to identify the parts, the bellows portion 22c is located in the lower portion of the body 210 and is substantially outwardly convex. The enclosed syringe 270 and its flange 28c rest on the shoulder 250 between the body portion 21c and the head portion 260 of the container. In this case as in the previous embodiment, a shield 340 is required over the needle 31c of the enclosed syringe 270, both to protect the sterile needle and package and also to rest against the bottom of the syringe package 180 in order to keep the enclosed syringe in a fixed position. Following removal of lid 23c, the bellows 220 is collapsed as depicted in FIG. 27 and plunger 320 is grasped to remove the syringe 270.

In an analogous embodiment shown in FIG. 30, the bellows 220 is approximately cylindrical in shape and is located at the base of the body portion 210. The package is opened and the syringe removed in a similar manner.

It should be abundantly clear that other embodiments Within the scope of this invention would be evident to those skilled in the art. In this regard, this invention basically provides a rigid package which may be economically produced, which will protect an enclosed syringe from breakage, will also protect the sterilized condition of this enclosed syringe for extended periods of time, and which may readily be opened and manipulated through a builtin bellows to remove the contained syringe without destroying the desired sterilization of parts. Of importance, is the provisions for opening the package by a single individual who need only use one hand to collapse the open package while using the other hand to remove the syringe and the fact that a multiplicity of these syringes may be stored in a much smaller area than previously required.

Thus, the above-mentioned objects, among others, are achieved. The range and scope of the invention are defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A substantially rigid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided with a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage with the shoulder to thereby collapse in securing the syringe within the package, collapsible means forming'part of the container for permitting a reduction in the effective longitudinal length of the container to facilitate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and said collapsible means being a bellows located intermediate the ends of the body of the container, said bellows being tubular in shape and tapered with its small end being nearer the closed end of the body of the container.

2. A substantially n'gid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided with a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage with the shoulder to thereby cooperate in securing the syringe, within the package, collapsible means forming part of the container for permitting a reduction in the efiective longitudinal length of the container to facilitate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and said collapsible means being a bellows located intermediate the ends of the body of the container, said bellows being stepped, oval in shape and tapered with its small end being nearer the closed end of the body of the container.

3. A substantially rigid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided with a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage with the shoulder to thereby cooperate in securing the syringe within the package, collapsible means forming part of the container for permitting a reduction in the effective longitudinal length of the container to facilitate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and the collapsible means being a bellows located intermediate the ends of the body of the container, said bellows being both conical and tubular in shape with a small end being near the narrow closed end of the body of the container.

4. A substantially rigid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided with a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage pith the shoulder to thereby cooperate in securing the syringe within the package, collapsible means forming part of the container for permitting a reduction in the efiective longitudinal length of the container to facilitate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and said collapsible means being a bellows located in the head of the container, said bellows being tubular in shape.

5. A substantially rigid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided with a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage with the shoulder to thereby cooperate in securing the syringe within the package, collapsible means forming part of the container for permitting a reduction in the eflective longitudinal length of the container to facilitate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and said collapsible means being a bellows located intermediate the ends of the body, said bellows being substantially ball-shaped.

6. A substantially rigid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided With a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage with the shoulder to thereby cooperate in securing the syringe Within the package, collapsible means forming part of the container for permitting a reduction in the effective longitudinal length of the container to facilitate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and said collapsible means being a bellows located adjacent the closed end of the body portion of the container and is tubular in shape.

'7. A substantially rigid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided with a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage with the shoulder to thereby cooperate in securing the syringe within the package, collapsible means forming part of the container for permitting a reduction in the efiective longitudinal length of the container to facilitate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and said collapsible means being a bellows which forms part of said shoulder.

8. A substantially rigid package for a syringe having a radial flange comprising a container including a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other, an enlarged head at the open end, said head having surface means for having a lid sealed thereto, said body provided with a tapered portion intermediate its ends, said enlarged head forming an internal shoulder with the open end of the body, and the radial flange on the syringe adapted to engage with the shoulder to thereby cooperate in securing the syringe within the package, collapsible means forming part of the container for permitting a reduction in the effective longitudinal length of the container to facili tate the grasping and removal of an enclosed syringe, and said collapsible means being a bellows which interconnects the body and head adjacent to the shoulder and tapers inwardly from said head to the body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,915,063 12/ 1959 Cutter. 3,114,455 12/ 1965 Claisse et al 206-43 X 3,282,114 11/1966 Pell 206-63.2 X

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PACKAGE FOR A SYRINGE HAVING A RADIAL FLANGE COMPRISING A CONTAINER INCLUDING A TUBULAR BODY CLOSED AT ONE END AND OPEN AT THE OTHER, AN ENLARGED HEAD AT THE OPEN END, SAID HEAD HAVING SURFACE MEANS FOR HAVING A LID SEALED THERETO, SAID BODY PROVIDED WITH A TAPERED PORTION INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS, SAID ENLARGED HEAD FORMING AN INTERNAL SHOULDER WITH THE OPEN END OF THE BODY, AND THE RADIAL FLANGE ON THE SYRINGE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE WITH THE SHOULDER TO THEREBY COLLAPSE IN SECURING THE SYRINGE WITHIN THE PACKAGE, COLLAPSIBLE MEANS FORMING PART OF THE CONTAINER FOR PERMITTING A REDUCTION IN THE EFFECTIVE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH OF THE CONTAINER TO FACILITATE THE GRASPING AND REMOVAL OF AN ENCLOSED SYRINGE, AND SAID COLLAPSIBLE MEANS BEING A BELLOWS LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE BODY OF THE CONTAINER, SAID BELLOWS BEING TUBULAR IN SHAPE AND TAPERED WITH ITS SMALL END BEING NEARER THE CLOSED END OF THE BODY OF THE CONTAINER. 